Freight companies are often necessary when you’re shipping large quantities of goods over long distances, such as when you’re importing or exporting goods between countries. Before you begin using your freight company, it’s important to make sure that you do your research to find the best fit and ensure that they aren’t going to cause any problems down the line. Here are five things you need to know before choosing a Freight Companies Brisbane to transport your items.
1) Is it Safe?
There are some issues surrounding using freight companies. You may not know who you are dealing with or where your goods are going. If you use a reputable, licensed company you should have nothing to worry about, but that does not mean that all companies have good intentions.
2) How does cost fit into my business budget?
This is perhaps one of the biggest concerns for any business, and you’ll want to ensure that your freight forwarding provider is giving you competitive rates. Also be aware of hidden fees, additional taxes and surcharges, etc. Your freight forwarder should be able to clearly explain their pricing structure at quote time so there are no surprises later on. If not, it may be wise to move on to another company. There are many carriers that can assist with your project in terms of international shipping costs.
3) Where are you located?
Whether you’re shipping domestically or internationally, one of your biggest considerations should be how close you are to your freight company. If there’s even a chance that it may need repacking in its next stop, why pay for them to take it from city A to city B, only for you to have your logistics company send it back across town? Your shipment has enough trouble without adding travel time! Keep your freight as close as possible.
4) What types of insurance do you carry?
In addition to asking about cargo insurance and liability insurance, it’s also smart to ask about product insurance. Damage or loss of products in transit is an unfortunate reality of many shipping scenarios, so if you’re handling fragile or high-value goods, be sure your potential carrier can cover what they’re carrying. Some carriers offer additional protection that may not be included in their standard package; for example, coverage for valuable items like electronics or jewelry might require an extra fee.
5) Can I rely on them to get the job done?
If you’re looking for a Freight Companies Brisbane, make sure you know whether they’ll be reliable enough to get your shipment where it needs to go. This is especially important if you are counting on them to deliver an item by a certain date—you don’t want any delays! See if there have been any complaints against them from past customers and ask about their on-time shipping record.